Illini 18-0
Low-key Head scores 26; Illini's 18-0 start a record
ILLINOIS 78, NORTHWESTERN 66
By Marlen Garcia Tribune staff reporter Published January 16, 2005
About a year ago, Luther Head came to Welsh-Ryan Arena with controversy glued to him. Coming off a two-game suspension because of an arrest for driving on a suspended license, Head barely could find his way on the basketball court."I had no confidence at all," he said. Saturday, Head was glad all that is behind him. And he left no doubt. Head continued his spectacular play for No. 1 Illinois, leading the Illini into the record books with a season-high 26 points in a 78-66 victory at Northwestern in front of a packed house of 8,117. Illinois is 18-0, the best start in 100 seasons of Illini basketball. The Illini broke the record of 17-0 the Flyin' Illini set in their Final Four season of 1988-89. "We have something to talk about and we're going to feel great about it," Head said. "But we still have things to do and more to accomplish." Illinois, 4-0 in the Big Ten, is on pace to break the Flyin' Illini's record of 31 victories in a season, but none of these Illini want to look that far ahead. "We just talk about continuing to stay No. 1, winning a Big Ten championship, getting a high [NCAA tournament] seed," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. The Illini are headed for a seventh straight week at No. 1, and Weber took a shot at those in the media who have wondered if No. 3 North Carolina might be the better team. Wake Forest snapped the Tar Heels' 14-game winning streak Saturday. "There has been so much talk that maybe they're better than us," Weber said. "They went down, so I'm not sure what the networks will talk about this week. We just have to keep taking care of ourselves and worry about winning." Motivation to beat Northwestern was not lacking. In the teams' first meeting last season, the Illini blew a nine-point halftime lead to the Wildcats (8-8, 1-3) in an eventual 10-point loss. Head scored three points in that game. This time he scored Illinois' first eight points and helped offset Deron Williams' foul trouble that limited the point guard to 25 minutes. Williams scored just six points but had nine assists. "I just let the game come to me," Head said. He made 9 of 14 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 8 on three-pointers. In a 4 1/2-minute stretch late in the game, Head scored 10 points. "We never stopped them," Northwestern coach Bill Carmody said. Head's stretch was vital to holding off Northwestern forward Vedran Vukusic, who scored 18 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. Northwestern had the better shooting day. The Wildcats converted 56 percent of their attempts to Illinois' 47.1 percent. "He has been so important," Weber said of Head. "He's the guy no one talks about." Head may not be the fan favorite, especially with dynamic guard Dee Brown around, but experts in college basketball are starting to mention Head as a possibility for some All-America teams. If he has his way, though, Head will continue taking a back seat to Brown and Williams. He prefers a low profile. "It's their third year and they have been doing the same thing for the last three years," Head said of the tandem's consistent all-around play. "This is my first year doing anything good," he added. "I'm just pleased to be playing well."
Gateway to the best The Illini's road to the Final Four in St. Louis Hero: Luther Head, who had a season-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He hit 4 of 8 three-pointers.
Tournament tutorial: Learning to flourish despite foul trouble. Deron Williams played just 25 minutes because of fouls, but Head and Dee Brown stayed in control. Up next: No. 24 Iowa (13-3, 1-2) visits the Assembly Hall at 6 p.m. Thursday.
ILLINOIS 78, NORTHWESTERN 66
By Marlen Garcia Tribune staff reporter Published January 16, 2005
About a year ago, Luther Head came to Welsh-Ryan Arena with controversy glued to him. Coming off a two-game suspension because of an arrest for driving on a suspended license, Head barely could find his way on the basketball court."I had no confidence at all," he said. Saturday, Head was glad all that is behind him. And he left no doubt. Head continued his spectacular play for No. 1 Illinois, leading the Illini into the record books with a season-high 26 points in a 78-66 victory at Northwestern in front of a packed house of 8,117. Illinois is 18-0, the best start in 100 seasons of Illini basketball. The Illini broke the record of 17-0 the Flyin' Illini set in their Final Four season of 1988-89. "We have something to talk about and we're going to feel great about it," Head said. "But we still have things to do and more to accomplish." Illinois, 4-0 in the Big Ten, is on pace to break the Flyin' Illini's record of 31 victories in a season, but none of these Illini want to look that far ahead. "We just talk about continuing to stay No. 1, winning a Big Ten championship, getting a high [NCAA tournament] seed," Illinois coach Bruce Weber said. The Illini are headed for a seventh straight week at No. 1, and Weber took a shot at those in the media who have wondered if No. 3 North Carolina might be the better team. Wake Forest snapped the Tar Heels' 14-game winning streak Saturday. "There has been so much talk that maybe they're better than us," Weber said. "They went down, so I'm not sure what the networks will talk about this week. We just have to keep taking care of ourselves and worry about winning." Motivation to beat Northwestern was not lacking. In the teams' first meeting last season, the Illini blew a nine-point halftime lead to the Wildcats (8-8, 1-3) in an eventual 10-point loss. Head scored three points in that game. This time he scored Illinois' first eight points and helped offset Deron Williams' foul trouble that limited the point guard to 25 minutes. Williams scored just six points but had nine assists. "I just let the game come to me," Head said. He made 9 of 14 field-goal attempts, including 4 of 8 on three-pointers. In a 4 1/2-minute stretch late in the game, Head scored 10 points. "We never stopped them," Northwestern coach Bill Carmody said. Head's stretch was vital to holding off Northwestern forward Vedran Vukusic, who scored 18 of his team-high 20 points in the second half. Northwestern had the better shooting day. The Wildcats converted 56 percent of their attempts to Illinois' 47.1 percent. "He has been so important," Weber said of Head. "He's the guy no one talks about." Head may not be the fan favorite, especially with dynamic guard Dee Brown around, but experts in college basketball are starting to mention Head as a possibility for some All-America teams. If he has his way, though, Head will continue taking a back seat to Brown and Williams. He prefers a low profile. "It's their third year and they have been doing the same thing for the last three years," Head said of the tandem's consistent all-around play. "This is my first year doing anything good," he added. "I'm just pleased to be playing well."
Gateway to the best The Illini's road to the Final Four in St. Louis Hero: Luther Head, who had a season-high 26 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He hit 4 of 8 three-pointers.
Tournament tutorial: Learning to flourish despite foul trouble. Deron Williams played just 25 minutes because of fouls, but Head and Dee Brown stayed in control. Up next: No. 24 Iowa (13-3, 1-2) visits the Assembly Hall at 6 p.m. Thursday.
posted by MaximumBob | 11:00 PM
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